ina, his wife, being up at Frank Pratt's old-fashioned house at
Highgate, where the only trouble happy little Fin can complain of is
that Frank is so bunted by the solicitors that he has no peace. Fin has
quite made up her mind that he will be Lord Chancellor; but Frank thinks
it more than doubtful, and is very fond of teasing his wife, his great
coup being to tell her that she asked him to marry her at last.

There is a quiet, grave look in the faces of Richard and his wife, for
they have paid two visits that day--one to the living, one to the dead.

Mrs Vanleigh is living in a pleasant little cottage in a Highgate lane,
and from her they learn that Sir Felix Landells marries the daughter of
an earl in a few weeks; also that Captain, now Major, Vanleigh is still
in India, where he is likely to stay; but that he writes regularly to
his neglected wife, and has devoted himself heart and soul to his
profession.

The visit to the dead was made in Highgate Cemetery, where there is a
neat little railing round a grave--green in summer, purple in spring
with violets; and as husband and wife stand hand in hand there, the
tears of the latter fall fast, while his eyes are blurred and misty as
he pictures the past, and seems to see the slight, fragile form slowly
wasting day by day, till once more, for the thousandth time, he conjures
up the dimly-lit room, and the solemn scene wherein he was an actor. He
knows that the long, dark tress of hair lies upon his wife's bosom; and
he knows, too, that in her gentle heart there is no tinge of jealous
feeling, or want of faith; for as he raises his head with a muttered
"God rest her!" he meets the loving look of a sweet, trusting pair of
eyes. Lastly, they gaze together at the simple headstone, but his are
even now too blurred to read the simple inscription--"Netta."

The End.

End of Project Gutenberg's Thereby Hangs a Tale, by George Manville Fenn

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